The Graduate Council is a deliberative, administrative, and executive body responsible directly to Senate but otherwise autonomous. Its membership consists of the Chancellor, the President and Vice-Chancellor, the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), the Vice-Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies (Chair), the Associate Deans of Graduate Studies, the Faculty Deans, the University Librarian, the University Registrar, the University Secretary, the Vice-President (Research), the Associate Registrar and Graduate Secretary, eighteen faculty members (three from each faculty), and twelve graduate students (two from each faculty).
The responsibilities of the Graduate Council have been specified in some detail by Senate and are outlined in the By-laws of the Senate of McMaster University and the Senate Resolutions (Article X). The more significant ones may be summarized by noting that it regulates matters concerning graduate work of common concern to the entire University, acts upon recommendations concerning graduate work from each Faculty upon matters of particular concern to that Faculty, reports to Senate on graduate matters, recommends candidates for graduate degrees, stipulates conditions for the awarding of graduate scholarships, and stipulates the departments eligible to offer graduate work.
For more information about the governing bodies of McMaster University, please visit the Senate webpage.
Chair: Dr. Steve Hranilovic (deangrad), Vice-Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies
Graduate Associate Deans Dr. Manish Verma (adeangsb), Associate Dean of Graduate Studies & Research (Business) Dr. Steven Hanna (adeanhsc), Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (Health Sciences) Dr. Catherine Anderson (adeangrh), Acting Associate Dean of Graduate Studies & Research (Humanities) Dr. Melanie Heath (adeangso), Associate Dean of Graduate Studies & Research (Social Sciences) Dr. Kathryn Grandfield (adeangse), Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (Engineering) Dr. Laura Parker (adeangss), Acting Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (Science)
Secretary (without vote): Stephanie Baschiera (baschie) Assistant Secretary (without vote): Christina Bryce (cbryce)
Ex-officio Members Dr. Susan Tighe, President & Vice-Chancellor Ms. Santee Smith, Chancellor Dr. Maureen MacDonald, Provost & VP (Academic) Dr. Gianni Parise, Vice-President (Research) Dr. Khaled Hassanein (deanbus), Dean of Business Dr. Bruce Newbold (deansci), Acting Dean of Science Dr. Pamela Swett (deanhum), Dean of Humanities Dr. Paul O’Byrne (deanfhs), Dean & Vice President (Health Sciences) Dr. Heather Sheardown (deaneng), Dean of Engineering Dr. Katherine Cuff (deansoc), Acting Dean of Social Sciences
Ex-officio Members (without vote) Andrea Thyret-Kidd, University Secretary Darran A. Fernandez, University Registrar Vivian Lewis, University Librarian
Business: Dr. Peter Miu, Finance and Business Economics (2025) Dr. Kevin Veenstra, Accounting and Financial Management Systems (2027) Dr. Nicole Wagner, Information Systems (2026)
Engineering: Dr. Tim Davidson, Electrical and Computer Engineering (2027) Dr. Zoe Li, Civil Engineering (2028) Dr. Leili Tafaghodi, Materials Science & Engineering (2026)
Health Sciences: Dr. Nancy Carter, Nursing (2026) Dr. Dino Trigatti, Biochemistry (2028) Dr. Wenonah Campbell, Rehabilitation Science (2028)
Humanities: Dr. Catherine Anderson, Linguistics and Languages (2028) Dr. Tracy McDonald, History (2028) Dr. Kathryn Mattison, Greek and Roman Studies (2027)
Science: Dr. Graham Scott, Biology (2028) Dr. Bruce Milliken, Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (2026) Vacant
Social Sciences: Dr. Cal Biruk, Anthropology (2026) Dr. Katherine Booth, Political Science (2028) Dr. Young Ki Shin, Economics (2027)
Business: Korede Ologun Engineering: Aman Kumar Health Sciences: Esha Patel, Seung Ea (Sarah) Min Humanities: Marissa Loiacono Science: Lucas Klein, Silas Vriend Social Science: Camden Church, Kritagya Dhanda
Observer (without vote): President, Graduate Students Association
Quorum: One third of the voting members